Council invites the community to have their say on the future of the Blue Mountains

Council has begun work on reviewing the Community Strategic Plan, and are putting the call out for the community to get involved.

The Community Strategic Plan is the highest level plan that Council prepares on behalf of the community. It identifies the community’s main priorities and aspirations for the future, and outlines our plan and strategies for achieving those goals.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “Council is leading the update of the Community Strategic Plan 2035, but we need and want the community’s input to help us create the right plan for the whole community.”

“From start to finish it’s quite a long process, and there will be several opportunities for everyone to contribute along the way,” Cr Greenhill continued.

“The first opportunity is happening now, through the online survey. You can also look at the comprehensive Community Engagement Strategy we’ve developed.

“Community consultation is one of the most important things we do. It can be a long and sometimes confusing road, but we are lucky to have a community who love the Blue Mountains as much as we do, and our strategic plans benefit from their ideas and enthusiasm.

“Since the Blue Mountains Community Strategic Plan was last reviewed four years ago, a lot has changed in our region and the impacts of climate change, bushfires, floods and COVID-19 have left deep imprints on how we live our lives. 

“It is more important now than ever that we come together as a community to support each and other protect our unique environment.”

The first round of engagement for the Community Strategic Plan review is underway now, and is open to everyone who lives or works in the Blue Mountains.

The survey aims to understand what the community values about living in the Blue Mountains, the strengths they recognise in our community, and how they think we can build on these to address the key challenges and opportunities facing the Blue Mountains both now and into the future. 

Those insights will directly inform the review of the Community Strategic Plan to make sure the community’s plan for our future stays relevant and targets those areas that matter most.

Share your views on the key issues, challenges, opportunities and priorities going forward online now.

Photo: Sun setting over Katoomba and the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park (Image: Destination NSW).